INGREDIENTS

We always aim to use fresh ingredients with the highest benefits for all products which not only fulfill our high standard for quality but also aligns our business with consumer trends towards health, sustainability and authenticity.

Focusing on quality and freshness in sourcing ingredients, particularly fruits for all our products, is a commendable strategy that aligns with producing high-quality food items.

• Freshness and Quality over Price
  Contractual Agreements – by securing contracts for specific volumes based on seasonal estimates, we ensure a steady supply of fresh fruits without the need for long-term storage, which can degrade quality.
  Quality Assurance – we minimize the risk of using fruits that are not at their peak, which could affect the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of our  products.
• Sourcing from Certified Producers
  We aim to get all other ingredients only from a good producers with best quality possible and lots of certificates for the products. Like for example:
  Milk from Spain – spanish milk can offer unique flavors and higher standards due to stringent farming practices and favorable climate conditions.
  Sugar with Small Optometry – specific organic and non-GMO certifications, as our dedication to ingredient purity and ethical sourcing.

We source our fruits for production as both strategic and environmentally conscious, focusing on sustainability, locality where possible, and global quality for exotic fruits.

Local Sourcing

• Sustainability and Quality
  By growing cherries, peaches, apples, pomegranates and apricots on our own local 800 km² of land we control the cultivation practices, ensuring sustainability, possibly organic or biodynamic farming in the future and the highest quality for these fruits.
• Supporting Local Economy
  Extending our sourcing to other local farms in Greece not only helps in scaling up when needed but also supports the local agricultural economy, potentially fostering better community relationships and economic resilience.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint
  Local sourcing minimizes transportation distances, thereby reducing CO2 emissions associated with logistics.

Global Sourcing

• Specialization
  Recognizing that some fruits are best sourced from their native regions (like mangoes from India or chocolate from Ecuador) we ensure using ingredients at their peak quality. This significantly enhance our product’s flavor and authenticity.
• Diversified Supply Chain
  By engaging with suppliers worldwide, we diversify our supply chain, reducing risks from local disruptions like weather events or political instability.
• Cultural Authenticity
  Using fruits from places of origin also add a cultural or exotic appeal to our products, which is attractive to consumers looking for authentic taste experiences.

Finding only plant-based ingredients can be challenging, costly, and even complex to use in our production. However, whenever we need to incorporate sugar, color, flavor, gelling agents, preservatives, or any other components essential for achieving product attributes such as consistency, color, taste, aroma, shelf life, and thickness, our primary objective is to utilize plant-based ingredients that are entirely safe for consumption and possess the necessary approvals and certifications from all relevant regulatory agencies.

By choosing only plant-based ingredients for all coloring and flavoring, we are not only avoiding potential health risks associated with artificial additives commonly used but also enriching our products with a range of health benefits and taste experience.

Turmeric is a spice primarily recognized in Middle Eastern cuisine and is highly nutritious. It boasts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, aids digestion, protects the liver, and may help prevent certain types of cancer. Additionally, it is known to alleviate menstrual discomfort and is effective in treating colds and flu due to its antimicrobial characteristics.

Red grape skin extract is abundant in anthocyanins, resveratrol, and phenolic compounds, which provide numerous health benefits. These include enhancing heart health by improving circulation and managing cholesterol levels, offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support for both the brain and body, and promoting healthy blood function.

Lutein is a naturally occurring antioxidant that enhances and protects eye health. It belongs to a category of compounds known as carotenoids. Lutein, along with other carotenoids like zeaxanthin, may play a role in preventing or slowing the progression of macular degeneration.

Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is a water-soluble vitamin within the B complex. It helps reduce fatigue, supports metabolic functions, and can be beneficial in treating migraines.

Pomegranate juice, in addition to being rich in vitamins E and C, is also a good source of vitamin K, folic acid, and potassium. The antioxidants present in the juice combat oxidative stress, which may contribute positively to fertility.

Paprika powder boasts an impressive nutritional profile, being low in calories, salt-free, and cholesterol-free. It is low in saturated fat while being rich in vitamins C, A, B6, and E, all of which offer healing properties. Furthermore, paprika is packed with essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc, along with cytoprotective polyphenolic compounds like flavonoids, catechins, rutin, tannins, and anthocyanins.

For preservation and acidity we again use only plant based materials completely with food and health certification safety.

We use only plant-based natural Potassium sorbate which is 10 times more expensive for producing than artificial. It is widely recognized in the food industry as a preservative E202 particularly for its antimicrobial properties and is used for “clean label” products by major food safety authorities like the FDA and EFSA. We use it only as in 1/5 of recommendation dosages due to benefits of our inverted sugar.

Pectin is a natural polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fruits, particularly in citrus fruits, apples, and some berries. We use it as all our gelling agent in food, especially in the production of jams, jellies and preserves.

Citric acid is a weak organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges. We use it as acidity regulator when needed due to its various beneficial properties.

Much more expensive for production but to completely follow all our guidelines in the terms of health and safety we also use all natural and food safety ingredients as thickeners and emulsifiers.

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), we use as thickener when need (soft ice cream). CMC is an anionic, water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose, which means it can form gels or thicken solutions when hydrated. It’s known for being non-toxic, odorless, and tasteless, making it suitable for our policies.

Xanthan gum is a natural polysaccharide produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris through fermentation, making it biodegradable and environmentally friendly compared to synthetic thickeners. It enhance texture, stabilize emulsions and provide a uniform consistency. We value it as natural gluten-free ingredient to mimic the elasticity and structure provided by gluten. We use it in sauces, dressings and as a stabilizer in ice cream to prevent ice crystal formation.

We use E471 produced from glycerol and fatty acids sourced from palm oil and use it as emulsifier as 0.01% in our products like soft ice cream. It helps to mix two immiscible liquids, like oil and water, forming stable emulsions. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) consider it safe for consumption with no set acceptable daily intake.